Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - The Matlosana Municipality currently has no service provider to carry out refuse removal and is back to doing it themselves.
Residents are glad that refuse that has been piling up for the last weeks, are being removed. “Back in the day, the Matlosana Municipality had a fleet of 32 refuse removal trucks. Now only about six or seven are in use, and while they are certainly capable of providing the service, one can only think of the reasons why they always want to appoint a service provider from outside,’’ said Cllr Johannes le Grange, DA Caucus Leader.
Last week, the High Court in Mahikeng suspended the contract of Molebogeng Trading Enterprises. This contract worth R75 million raised eyebrows when regular refuse collection all but ceased since the contractor received the tender in December 2023.
According to the contract, Molebogeng Trading Enterprise was obligated to provide 10 refuse removal trucks in good working condition by December 15 2023, requiring 10 additional new refuse trucks to be brought into operation three months within the contract period, and another six trucks at the five-month mark.
To date, only two trucks have been made available for refuse removal in the entire area.
Cllr Le Grange expressed concern over the CFO’s decision to move the Director of Community Safety, Jemina Masilo, to another department. “She also took it upon herself to deal with Molebogeng to send their refuse removal trucks to the municipality’s service providers for repairs. We expect answers on questions about this and other questionable actions regarding this tender at the council meetings this week,’’ he said.
According to the court’s interdict, Matlosana must immediately implement the necessary steps to urgently procure temporary refuse trucks to deliver services to the community.
“The municipality also has 30 days from the date of the interdict to deliver documents on the evaluation, adjudication and award of Molebogeng to the court.
